Turbine apparatus driven by either of two unrelated sources of air pressure



Oct. 7, 1952 w TEAGUE, JR 2,612,757

TURBINE APPARATUS DRIVEN BY EITHER OF TWO UNRELATED SOURCES OF AIR PRESSURE Filed April 28, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV EV TOR.

LTER 0. 755505, JR.

'ATTOR/YEV- QCL 952 w TEAGUE, JR 2,612,757

TURBINE APPAR ATUS DRIVEN BY EITHER OF TWO UNRELATED SOURCES OF AIR PRESSURE 1 Filed April 28, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q M I20 IN V EN TOR.

gm rm 0. 755505, JH

Oct. 7, 1952 w. TEAGUE, JR 2,612,757

TURBINE APPAR S DRIVEN EITHER OF TWO UNRELATED SOURCES OF PRESSURE v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

ATTO/Z/VE Y- Patented Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce OF TWO UNRELATED SOURCES OF ,AIR

PRESSURE Walter Dorwin Teague, 'Jr., Alpine, N..J., .assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, .Teterboro, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application April 28, 1947, Serial No."74'4,495

9 Claims. (CI. 60-57 The invention hereof relates to turbine'apparatus or the like, and, particularly to means having to do with the structure and operation of a turbine itself, as well as to elements "associated therewith. also having been broken away and omitted;

Among the objects of the invention "are to Figure 2 is a view, taken from the left :of overcome disadvantages of former devices of Figure 1, 01? the structure thereof, parts being the above indicated character 'and to do so by in elevation and section and others having .been novel eifeetive means. broken away; V

Another object is to provide a turbine, in Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail takenisub-; which that portion thereof operating as the stastantially along the line i3--3 of Figure 2; tionary means or stator having stationary vanes Figure 4 is a fra mentary 'detailFtaken subfor directing the operating 'fluid to the rotor tantially along the line 'I-i4 :of Fi re vanes, also "has vanes which have some move- Figure 5 is a dev loped p 0f Portions of ment relative to the stationary vanes for varyturbine indicated in Figures 1 and 2, Sh w ing the effective fluid 'delivery ar f th stator vanes in the fully closed throttling .rela-' spaces 'between the stator vanes, as inthrottllng tion thereof to thevanes of a rotor, w heta o the rotor between maximum and minimum vanes-aremovable relative to each other; throttling conditions. I Figure 6 is a view partially in top plan and Another object is to provide a turbine of the p rtially in section of means where y e turabove-indicated character, which is adapted "to blue is S p t y pplied with fluid Pressure be carried by a vehicle 'or apparatus "having when the turbine carrier is stationary, which controlled movement, and in which the turbine p y may be automatically eted w e i Operative by "th ra pressure lti from the carrier moves as aforesaid, and as will fursuch movement. therappear; and

Another object is, 'to provide a turbine which Side View pa y in e on of is selectively operative .froma plurality of fluid the Structureshown i fi. sources, such as the source of ram pressure Referringperticularly to i res 1 and 2, aforesaid, and "a fluid pressure supply mea s device comprises a unit til adapted to be car-" separate from the controlled vehicle or appalied y pp Figure avin controlled ratus for operating 'the turbine when the appamovement, and in which the unit in comprises ratuscarryi-ng the turbine isstationary. a housing 14 av ram 'P eSSu're and flu-id Another object is to provide means which is pressure'inlets-lfiend c v yadapted for connecting the separate fluid supply A Vaned rotor facing the ram p sure means aforesaid to conduit means of the veinlet 15 and Positionedfbehind the fluid P hicle, 'andis responsive to the controlled vehicle Sure inlet 113011818 vanes 21 d p n i r o movement for disconnection from "the conduit P111 1 11 by fluid from the inlets i6 and 18, 1 115 and t hi h whereupgn "t conduit is provided with a shaft 23 having a partitioned tomatically closed. 7 orslotted portion 22.

Another "object is "to provide a .novel turbine A 'Vaned Stator forwardly $04316 18ft nozzle or throttling means, which is of substanof rotor Ill, as shown, des a a i ary m n minimumsjzeandweight, member 26 having vanes 28 next to the rotor Another object is to provide means of th 20 adapted to direct fluid to the rotor vanes, above-mdi'cated character which are simple and stator includes a {forwardlyv ex? durable in construction, economical 'to 'manutending casing 0. A conduit 32, :as shown in facture, and effective in their operation. Figure '2, has a portion Swear-tending radially in; These and other objects and features of the wardly from the inlet H3 through one of the?- invention are pointed out in the following destationary wanes 28, and aportion 36 extending scription in terms of the embodiment thereof axially forwardly in a Wall 38 of the casing 50. which shown in the accompanyin drawings. t0 the 0 casing t and end It is'to 'be understood, however, that the drawthe casing as showninFigure'l, ings are for the purpose of illustration :only, Ava-ned throttle 40, normally in an 0pen ,pos iand are not designed as'a definition 'of the 'limtion and journaled, as by a bearing 42 n 515 its of the invention, reference being had to the casing 1-38 :for movement about the .rotor axis; appended claims for this purpose. 2

In the drawings: 1 Figure 1 is a view partially in sectionpan partially in elevation of a structure embody? ing features of the invention in one form,.pa'it's has vanes 44 adapted to vary the effective delivery area A, Figure 5, of spaces 46 between the stator vanes 28, and is provided with linkage coacting means 48, which in this instance, is a member of substantially U-shape secured, as by screws 50 to a flange 62 of the throttle 40, and having its legs extending axially in side elevation, as seen in Figure 1, and substantially radially in end elevation, as seen in Figure 2. A spring 54 is disposed in the casing 30.

Arms 56, in the casing 30, have forward-end lateral pivot connection 58 to the forward end of the slotted shaft portion 22 and carry flyweight rollers 80 at their rear ends for cooperation with cam elements 62 having surfaces 64 inclined to the shaft axis on which the rollers 68 ride laterally outwardly responsive to rotation of the shaft 23 to move the cam elements 62 axially forwardly against the action of the spring 54.

A push rod 68 extends along the axis of the shaft portion 22 through an end closure 68 of the casing 30 and has a hollow portion 10 in the casing 30 journaled, as by a bearing 72, about thecam elements 62. The rod 06 is axially movable by the elements 62 to compress the spring 54 against the casing end closure 68.

The linkage mechanism I4 comprises a shaft 16 journaled in bearings I8 and 86 on the closure 68, an arm 82 cooperating with the linkage coacting means 48, and an arm 84 connected to the push rod 66 by a link 86 Figure 3 and responsive to axial movement of the push rod to convert the axial movement into turning movement of the throttle 40. Fluid pressure responsive means 88, Figures 2 and 4, also mounted on the casing end closure 68, comprises a cylinder 90 and a piston 92 and is adapted to receive fluid from the portion 36 of the conduit 32 to move another arm 94 to effect turning movement of the throttle 40.

A second spring 96, Figure 2, is connected between a member 98 on the throttle 40 and a member I on the closure 68 to bias the throttle 40 in a normally open direction and against turning movements of the arm 82 in a throttle closing direction. Means IOI cooperating between the throttle 40 and the casing end 68 is adapted to adjust the limits of the throttle turning movement, as hereinafter explained. A cover I03, fixed at one end to the throttle 40 to turn therewith, as shown in Figure 1, is journaled at its other end on a stub shaft or pin I05 fixed to a portion I0'i of the closure 68 to prevent cantilever movement of the cover and parts carried thereby, which would unbalance the throttle and other parts.

. As indicated in Figure 6, supply means I02 is adapted for connection, as by means I04 hereafter explained, to the apparatus I2 to supply fluid pressure to the inlet I8, and is responsive to controlled movement of the apparatus, as in the direction of an arrow B, relative to the supply means I02 for disconnection from the apparatus.

The supply means I02 may comprise a tripod or stand I06 for supporting a fluid pressure tank I08 and having a swivel head I I0 carrying a teles'copic tube II2 that is adapted to be connected into means I04 carried by the vehicle I2. The tube H2 is provided with a valve I60 of the type employed in the art to stop further flow from the pressure tank I08 upon the disconnection of the tube I I2 from the vehicle I2.

The means I04 comprises, in this instance a bushing II 4, secured to an outer panel or wall II 6 of the apparatus or vehicle I2, supporting a seal H8 and connected to a conduit I20 con- 4 necting with inlet I8. The conduit I20 also includes a check valve I22 opening to the fluid responsive means 20 and 88.

The supply means I02 is positionable adjacent the apparatus I2 to the end that the head IIO thereof and its associated tube H2 is rotatable through an are D that is coplanar with the plane in which the means I04 of the apparatu I-2 are positioned. Thus, the tube I I2 may be slip fitted into the bushing H4 and thereby connect the conduit I20 with the tube II2 so that a separate or independent source of fluid pressure is made available for the vehicle I2 when it is stationary.

When the vehicle I2 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 6, the tube H2 is rotated through the are D by such movement. Since the direction of the movement of the vehicle I2 is tangential to rotation of tube II2 it is apparent'that at some point along are D, for example at point C, the tube I I2 pulls out of the bushing H4. The check valve I22 thereupon closes the conduit I20 and the valve I60 operates to close off tank I08 to prevent the further discharge of fluid pressure therefrom.

Referring to Figure 5, the movable stator vanes 44, which have spaces 45 therebetween, are illustrated as in positions fully closin the spaces 46 between the stationary stator vanes 28, to which positions they have been moved in the direction of an arrow E, Figures 2 and 5. This is not the normal position, but has been chosen for better illustration of how an area F of each vane 44 more than fully closes the area A. In the normal position of the throttle 40, each area F is centered opposite, and substantially equal to, an area G of one of the vanes 28.

Movement of the throttle 40 between the abovementioned closed and open positions is limited by the means IOI, which comprises adjustable stop screws I24 and I26, carried by a bracket I28 on the throttle, which engage an arm I30 mounted on the casing end closure 68.

Referring to Figure 3, the arm 84 is loosely mounted on the shaft 16 and, when moved clockwise by the plunger 66, acts through an arm I32, fixed to the shaft 16, to turn the throttle 48. This arrangement is provided so that, when the piston 82 is actuated to turn the throttle, the'arm I32 will move away from the arm 84, and the piston not be required to act against resistance by the spring 54. A set screw I34 is provided in the arm I32 for engaging the arm 84 and effecting adjustment between the arms.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the housing I4 has an annular portion I36 surrounding a portion I38 having an annular groove or channel I40 which conducts fluid from the inlet I8 to a plurality of nozzles I42 extending diagonally rearwardly and downwardly from the forward part of the channel I40 toward the vanes 2I of the rotor 20 and distributed-about the rotor axis. 1

The shaft 23, in this instance, carries a rotor I44 of an alternator I46, and is connected to a pump I48.

In operation, when it is necessary or desired to actuate the rotor 20 from the source or supply means I02, a valve associated with the head I I0 is opened to release fluid from the tank I08, which fluid opens the check valve I22 and continues to the inlet I8, from which it travels to the channel I40, through the nozzles I42, and into the portions 34 and 36 of the conduit 32 to the cylinder 90. v

Withthe throttle .40 normally openQ-as above set forth, the first burst of :fiuid simultaneously hits the rotor vanes 2I and escapes forward which the flyweights 60 actuate the throttle toward open position through the push rod 66 and 1 other of the parts set forth.

If such operation is in effect when the apparatus I2 acquires'or is :given the above-mentioned movement in the direction of the arrow B, the tube -I I2 slips out of the bushing I I4 at about the point C, the check valve I22 closes, the supply I02 is disconnected, and closed 'ofi? by valve I66), the throttle 40 opens fully and the rotor 20 continues to rotate under its inertia, and ram air' pressure from source I6 thereafter operates to insure continued rotation of .said rotor 20 subject .to regulation of the stator vane openings 46 by means of the centrifugal governor S actuating the push .rod 88,

in turn to actuate shaft I6, and links 82 and 36 to regulate the said stator openings, and. the amount of ram pressure permitted to reach the rotor 20 thereby.

When .the ram pressure attains a value sufflciently high so that the speed of rotation reaches a predetermined value, the throttle will start to close.

While the centrifugal governor 56 is ineffective for opening the throttle 40 due to the connection I32 so long as the throttle MI is held in a closed position by the piston 92 underiorce of the auxiliary fluid pressure from the source I02, it will be seen that upon disconnection of the source Hi2 from the piston 92, the spring 96 will tend to bias the throttle 40 in. an opening direction and the arm I32 into operative relation with arm .84. Thereafter the throttle 40 will be adjusted'by the governor 56 so as to apply a ram pressure to the turbine 20 to maintain the same at a predetermined constant speed. The turbine may, of course, be operated by ram pressure,'without first operating it from a separate source such as the source I02.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangements of the parts, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is, therefore, to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a turbine apparatus adapted to be carried by a movable vehicle, said apparatus comprising a housing having a ram pressure inlet and an inlet for receiving fluid pressure from an independent source, a vaned rotor positioned behind both of said inlets and operable in response to fluid pressure from either of said inlets, said rotor having a forwardly sitioning said throttle, a spring in the casing extending shaft, a vaned stator positioned forward of the rotor including a stationary member having a fixed vaned portion'next to's'aid rotor for directing fluid pressure to said rotor and a forwardly extending casing portion,-a conduit extending radially inward throughione Jnfisaflfl stationary vanes and ardallyiorwardrin :a wan of the casing to the forward casing ':end,.-;a

vaned throttle journaled in c said casing for movement about the rotor axis-to vary 'theiefa fective delivery area of the spaces between the stator vanes, linkage means for 'adiustably poarms :in :said casing having lateral pivot iconnections :to the shaft, 1a 'flyweight rollericarried by each of saidarms, cam elements havingfsurfaces inclined to the rotor axis, :saidrollers being adapted to ride laterally outward onesaidrcam surfaces in response to the rotation of said-shaft whereby .said cam elements arermoved'iaidally forward, a push rodextendingzforwardly through said casing and and having a hollow portion in the :casing journaled about said cam element,

said push rod being axially movable ,in mesponse to the lateral outward movement l-of said flyweight rollers to compress said spring against said casing end, first means operatively con.- necting said push rod with thelinkagemeans carried by said throttle and responsive to -axial movements of said pushrod upon the outward movement of said flyweight rollers .to convert said axial movementinto a turning movementof said.

throttle in a closing direction, fluid pressure responsive means mounted .on :said casing end to receive .fluid pressure from said'. independent source through said sconduit,isecond. means operatively connecting said fluid pressure responsive means to said linkage means to effect a turning movement of said throttle 'ina closing direction, a second spring, means connecting said second springbetween the throttle and the casing to bias the throttle against/said turning movements in an opening direction, means cooperating between the throttle and casing for adjusting the limits of said turningimovement, and an independent fluid supply source including means for connecting said independent fluid supply to said housing, said connecting-means being disconnectable upon the movement of said vehicle from a stationary position.

2. Turbine apparatus for use in a vehicle and adapted to be operated .by an independent :source of fluid pressure when said vehicleis stationary,

and by ram pressure when said vehicle is inmotion through a fluid medium, said independent; source of fluid pressure being disconnected upon the initial movement of said vehicle 'froma :sta-

tionary position, said apparatus comprising a 5 housing, a vaned rotor, 'a shaft :on said rotor for rotatably supporting said rotor in said housing, .a

vaned stator mounted in said housing andpositioned forward of said rotor,=said stator having a forwardly extending casing, a vaned throttle rotatably mounted on said casing and'positioned.

forwardly of said stator, a ram pressure inlet disposed in said housing forwardly of said throttle, the vanes of said throttle being soconstructed and arranged as to open or close the spaces between the vanes of said stator upon the" relative displacement of the former to the latter to thereby control thezamount of ram pressure passing from said ram ressure inlet through said:

stator and to said rotor, spring means connected between said casing and said throttle and normally biasing said throttle to a position-where -said rotor whereby said rotor may be rotated by said independent fluid pressure, a fluid pressure actuated mechanism, a linkage mechanism connecting said throttle to said fluid pressure actuated mechanism, a pressure conduit connecting said fluid pressure actuated mechanism to said inlet for the independent source of fluid pressure, said fluid pressure actuated mechanism and linkage mechanism being so constructed and arranged thatwhen fluid pressure from said independent source is introduced into said inlet, the throttle is moved against the biasing effect of the spring means to a position whereby the vanes of said throttle fully close the spaces between the vanes of said stator, and a centrifugally operated mechanism mechanically associated with the shaft of said rotor and said linkage mechanism whereby said throttle is moved relative to said stator in response to the rotation of said rotor, said centrifugally operated mechanism normally being effective only after said independent source of fluid pressure is disconnected from said inlet upon the initial movement of said vehicle.

. 3. In a unit adapted to be carried by a movable vehicle and having a turbine operated by ram pressure when said vehicle is in motion through a fluid medium, said turbine including a housing having a ram pressure inlet, a vaned rotor mounted for rotation within said housing, a fixed stator mounted in said housing forwardly of said rotor and having vanes for directing ram pressure from said inlet to said rotor, a vaned throttle mounted .in said housing forwardly of said stator and for rotary movement relative to said stator, the vanes of said throttle being adapted to open or close the spaces between the statorvanes to thereby control the delivery of ram pressure to said rotor, spring means biasing said rotary throttle to a position where the spaces between the vanes of the stator are fully open, and linkage means connecting said throttle to a governor carried by said turbine whereby said throttle is moved relative to said stator against the bias of said spring means to thereby control the ram pressure delivered from said inlet to said rotor in response to the rotational speed of said rotor, the combination with said turbine of means for rotating said turbine when said vehicle is stationary comprising, an independent source of fluid pressure, means for connecting said independentsource of fluid pressure to said housing, nozzle means in said housing tor directing fluid pressure from said independent source to the rotor of said turbine, a pressure responsive device actuated in response to fluid pressure from said independent source, and means for connecting said pressure responsive device to the linkage mechanism for rotating said throttle, whereby said throttle is moved against the bias of said spring means to move said throttle relative to the stator to a position whereby the vanes of the former close the spaces between the vanesof the latter, said means for connecting the independent source of fluid pressure to said housing being disconnectable upon the movement of said vehicle away from said independent source of fluid pressure.

4. In a turbine apparatus adapted for use in movable vehicle and operable in response to ram pressure developed by the movement of said vehicle through a fluid medium, said apparatus including a housing defining a ram pressure inlet, a vaned rotor mounted for rotation in said housing, a fixed stator mounted in said housing forwardlyof said rotor. fordirecting ram pressure to said rotor, a throttle mounted in said housing forwardly of said stator and for rotary movement relative thereto, spring means biasing said throttle to a first predetermined position relative to said stator, and linkage means connecting said throttle to a governor carried by said rotor whereby said throttle is moved between said first predetermined and a second predetermined position relative to said stator to thereby control the ram pressure delivered to said rotor, the combination with said turbine apparatus of means for operating said rotor when said vehicle is stationary, comprising an independent source of fluid pressure, a disconnectable connection between said independent source of fluid pressure and said housing, a plurality of nozzles formed in said housing for directing fluid pressure from said independent source to said rotor, pressure actuated means including a pressure conduit in communication with said independent source of fluid pressure and operable in response to said fluid pressure, and means for interconnecting said pressure actuated means to said linkage mechanism whereby the operation of said pressure actuated means in response to the initial flow of fluid pressure from said independent source rotates said throttle to its second-predetermined position relative to said stator.

5. In combination, a unit adapted to be carried by a movable apparatus comprising a vaned rotor, an element driven by said vaned rotor, said vaned rotor being rotatable in response to fluid pressure, a vaned stator positioned forwardly of said rotor and having spaced vanes, a throttle positioned forwardly of said stator and having spaced vanes, said throttle being mounted for rotary movement relative to said stator, the vanes of said throttle being so constructed and arranged as to open or close the space between the vanes of said stator upon the relative movement of the former to the latter, means for biasing said throttle to a first predetermined position whereby the spaces between the vanes of said stator are fully open, a source of fluid pressure, means for connecting said source of fluid pressure to said unit, nozzle means for directing said fluid pressure between the vanes of said stator and against said rotor, fluid pressure responsive means connected with and operative in response to fluid pressure from said pressure source to move said throttle to a second predetermined position whereby the spaces between the vanes of said rotor are fully closed,

and governor means carried by said element and operatively connected to said throttle, said governor means being operative in response to the speed of said element to control the relative position of said throttle to said stator in response to the speed of said element when the fluid pressure responsive means is inoperative.

6. In a turbine driven selectively by either of two unrelated sources of fluid pressure, the combination comprising a first conduit for delivering fluid pressure from one of said sources to said turbine, means responsive to turbine speed for regulating the fluid pressure delivered from said first conduit to said turbine, a second conduit for delivering fluid from the other of said sources to said turbine, and fluid pressure responsive means operated by the fluid pressure from said other source for moving said regulating means to a position closing said first conduit upon delivery of fluid pressure from said other source through said second conduit to said turbine.

7. In a turbine driven selectively by either of two unrelated sources of fluid pressure, the combination comprising an inlet to said turbine, a first conduit for delivering fluid pressure from one of said sources to said turbine inlet, a valve mechanism to control the fluid pressure delivered from said first conduit to said turbine inlet, turbine speed responsive means, means operatively connecting said speed responsive means to said valve mechanism for regulating the fluid pressure delivered from said first conduit to said turbine inlet to thereby regulate the speed of said turbine, a second conduit for delivering fluid pressure from the other of said sources to said turbine inlet, fluid pressure responsive means operated by the fluid pressure from said other source, and other means operatively connecting I other source through said second conduit to said I turbine inlet.

8. In a turbine driven selectively by two unrelated sources of fluid pressure, the combination comprising an inlet to said turbine, a first conduit for delivering fluid pressure from oneof said sources of fluid pressure to said turbine inlet, a valve mechanism to control fluid pressure delivered from said first conduit to said turbine inlet, spring means biasing said valve mechanism in a first opening direction to open said first conduit to said turbine inlet, a second conduit for delivering fluid pressure from the other of said sources of fluid pressure to said turbine inlet, fluid pressure responsive means connected to said other source of fluid pressure, means operatively connecting said fluid pressure responsive means to said valve mechanism whereby the operation of the fluid pressure responsive means by its associated source of fluid pressure moves said 10 valve mechanism in a second direction to close said first conduit to said turbine inlet against the biasing force of said spring means when fluid pressure from said other source of fluid pressure is delivered through said second conduit to said turbine inlet, turbine speed responsive means, and means operatively connecting said speed responsive' means to said valve mechanism whereby said valve mechanism is operated against the bias of said sprin to regulate the delivery of fluid pressure from said one source of fluid pressure through said first conduit to said turbine inlet, to thereby regulate the speed of said turbine. 9. The combination defined by claim 8 in which the means for connecting said speed responsive means to said valve mechanism includes a lost motion linkage connection whereby said valve mechanism may be operated solely by said fluid pressure responsive means and independentlyof said speed responsive means.

WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

